ScienceDaily: Online teaching triggers a different response in the body
“The researchers therefore analyzed the heart rate variability and salivary cortisol concentrations of 82 students attending an anatomy course. This course was held as a blended learning seminar: The students were divided into groups, and for each group online classes alternated with classroom classes. On each day the seminar was held, there was one group attending the class in the histology room and another group that followed the same course simultaneously online. On a representative course day, the researchers measured heart rate variability with special sensors over the entire duration of the course, namely 120 minutes. They also took saliva samples at the beginning, after 60 minutes and at the end of the course. The students who participated via a video platform performed the measurements themselves using the same tools and step-by-step instructions.
Physiological excitation was significantly reduced during online sessions. This was reflected in lower cortisol concentrations, lower sympathetic activity and increased parasympathetic activity. The latter two values can be derived from heart rate variability and are a measure of tension: Students were more relaxed when they attended the seminar online.
In addition to the physiological values, the team also used questionnaires to determine subjectively perceived parameters, such as how enjoyable it was to participate in the course. One result: increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system correlated with increased enjoyment during in-person classes. This correlation was not found in the online group.”
Some Insights From This Article
There have been many that report that online learning and teaching has a much different feel and experience than in-person learning. This article shows that online learning may stimulate less our body and wanting to learn and generally excitability of our mind/body to focus and pay attention.
One may say 'isn't being relaxed a good thing for learning?’ While this may be true to some who thrive in low pressure environments, research shows that humans generally thrive ideally in mildly stressed situations.
The act of getting up and commuting to your class may help provide that additional ‘stress’ to help get your mind up and running. Mind in this case this would be the good stress that would help you learn.
Full article is here!
Do you prefer in-person classes or online?
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@sunnyWriting4806
Interesting. I agree, online meetings are not stimulating enough to pay attention. Often times I think about something else or do something else altogether. Harder to do in in person meetings.
@LostTurtle22
Definitely agree, plus many people who do online meetings do it at home. There has been many studies that just being in an environment (like your home), your mind can assume being relaxed and winded down, it's definitely a whole body experience when you meet in-person.